MCALLEN, Texas — Dr. Ali Esmaeili, Executive Dean for Math, Science, Information Technology and Bachelor Programs at South Texas College, has been appointed to serve on a high-level statewide working group tasked with developing a framework for three-year bachelor’s degree pathways across Texas.
Esmaeili is the only higher education leader from a border college or university selected for the 13-member task force, bringing a critical Rio Grande Valley perspective to the state's latest higher education accessibility initiative.
The working group was established at the direction of Governor Greg Abbott and convened by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). It brings together academic leaders, administrators, and workforce experts from community colleges and four-year universities across Texas to study how accelerated degree pathways can lower costs and help students enter the workforce sooner.
According to figures released by the Governor's Office, completing a bachelor’s degree in three years instead of four could reduce the total cost of earning a degree by up to 25%, saving Texas students between $15,000 and $35,000.
“Every semester adds tuition, fees, housing, food, transportation, and other living expenses and delays students’ ability to begin their careers,” Abbott said. “Texas students deserve the option to receive a degree in a high-demand, high-wage field in less time. I direct the Coordinating Board to develop a statewide framework for three-year bachelor’s degree pathways.”
Esmaeili’s appointment highlights South Texas College’s growing national and statewide reputation for expanding applied bachelor’s degree options tailored to regional economic demands. STC currently offers several applied baccalaureate programs aimed at meeting local workforce shortages in technology, management, and healthcare.
As part of the 13-member group, Esmaeili will work alongside higher education leaders from major systems—including the University of Texas System, Texas A&M University System, Texas Tech, and Lone Star College—to tackle key policy and practical hurdles.
The group’s mandate includes evaluating:
“Three-year bachelor’s programs could help motivated students enter high-demand fields a year earlier,” said Texas Higher Education Commissioner Wynn Rosser. “This will lower the cost of education and help satisfy workforce demands in the Texas economy.”
The initiative builds on recent changes to national accreditation standards, which have opened the door for institutions to reimagine the traditional 120-credit-hour framework without sacrificing academic rigor or learning outcomes.
Abbott directed the THECB working group to collaborate with employers, accrediting bodies, and faculty leadership before submitting its formal recommendations and proposed implementation framework to the Office of the Governor by December 31, 2026.
The Governor indicated he plans to work with the Texas Legislature during the following legislative session to codify the accelerated degree framework into state law.
